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Tuesday, 28 June 2011

Wouldn't it be great to spend all my days crafting? However, my full time job, family commitments etc always seem to take over. That's why I thoroughly enjoy weekend retreats. I can become totally absorbed and forget everything else!

I recently attended the PaperArtsy and LB Crafts retreat and it was amazing! I learnt a lot of new techniques, met many like-minded people and had a brilliant time!

The projects used the new Fresco Finish chalk acrylics. These paints are gorgeous and will cover any surface which was borne out by the three different projects we did. I love how everyone starts off with the same materials yet every project is totally different!

I was so pleased with my projects, I have given them pride of place in my hallway for all to see. Every time I look at them, I see something different and am quite proud of myself. My daughter was amazed so I will show her the techniques I learnt and then we are going to play and make something similar together.

What I particuarly liked about this retreat is that we finished all the projects we started. Sometimes, I have felt rushed to finish projects and to start another, but there was no sense of this with Lyn and Leandra.

There is another retreat in October and I will be doing my best to ensure I can go!!

Wednesday, 22 June 2011

Crafting is something I've always done long before I got into card making. From a young age I knitted, sewed, gardened and cooked; which all involve creation and imagination.

I was never very good at art in school; my art lessons consisted of drawing what we saw, in other words, draw the vase, draw the object in front of us. I cannot draw. I have never been able to draw. I will never be able to draw. However, when the project changed to a 'mixed-media' type project, my grades went up and I thoroughly enjoyed myself, reigniting my creativity.

I have always encouraged my daughter to craft. Her Christmas sack always consisted of some sort of crafting set, whether it was a plaster-cast set, a candle-making set or a glass painting set. And I must admit, I was always excited to play with them myself! Now, having Grandchildren and a craft room of goodies, I am sharing my ideas with them. They are a bit too young to let loose in my craft room, but they are more than welcome to play with the paper, the PVA glue and feathers!

My daughter introduced me to card making. We started off on the dining table with card, mulberry paper and paper flowers. It wasn't long until I had converted our loft into my own craft room! Now, in a new house, I have a room dedicated to my hobby; but I could really do with another!!

Having followed other people's blogs, attended work shops and demonstrations, I decided to start my own blog and share my own ideas. There are a few crafters I admire and their techniques have taught me to do things I never thought I could do, like paint!

About Me

I live in Todmorden, am married to Rob between us we have 5 kids and 7 gorgeous grandchildren under the age of six.
Through crafting I have met so many lovely people and made some great friends.
I love all kinds of crafting but mixed media, patchwork quilting and machine embroidery are my favourites.